MAWATA (mah-WAH-tah) n. silkworm cocoons spread out into a large square over a frame; aka silk roving, silk hankies. The term comes from a Japanese word meaning “to expand, to spread.”

The Nonotuck silk cloche was designed specifically to be knit with unspun mawata hankies, but any fingering-weight yarn could be substituted. The seamless hat is knit in one piece from the top down and edged with a vintage lace pattern adapted from a Florence Knitting Silk pattern booklet published in 1882 by the Nonotuck Silk Company in Florence, Massachussetts.

The PDF includes color photos, lace pattern in both words and charted form, and extensive step-by-step instructions for working with mawata.